Hello, IGN Community! I hope everyone is doing well and started 2015 on the right foot. I've been pretty busy the past two months, but I might be able to get back into blogging soon. Have a fantastic day, everyone. - 2 years ago

The leading franchise in kart racing has finally returned in full throttle. Even though not all aspects of Mario Kart 8 match each other in entertainment value, there's no denying that it's the most refined entry in the series to date. With beautiful imagery and hours of replay value, this is one title that might just outlive the console it resides on.

It seems that kart racers are the best medicine for any gaming system. Is your console or handheld suffering from a lack of compelling software and poor sales? All you need to do is put a bunch of cute characters in small cars let them race around colorful tracks, using wacky weapons along the way. The Wii U is in desperate need for a killer app and Nintendo can feel the pain.

All the Big N needed to do was take the existing Mario Kart 7, slap a new coat of paint on it and watch the money roll in. Instead, Nintendo has gone the extra mile and not only gives us the rush of nostalgia that we crave, but also enhances it. Mario Kart 8 takes the classic formula that the series has sworn by since the Super Nintendo's glory days and literally turns it upside down.

From the start, the most obvious upgrade comes in the form of Mario Kart 8's presentation. The bright, vibrant visuals easily make this Nintendo's best looking title and the audio is, as expected, superb. Mario Kart 8 manages to demonstrate how the Wii U's limited hardware capabilities can create incredible fidelity, but the gameplay remains being the core focus of the experience.

Before rubber can meet pavement, you'll be able to choose from a wide selection of characters to play as. Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser make a not-so-surprising return alongside a few new faces, some of which are better than others. With a total of thirty playable characters, fourteen of them must be unlocked. These include the seven Koopa Kids and the additional Mii character.

Characters like Metal Mario, Pink Gold Peach and the babies are neat inclusions to the roster, but they could have been replaced with more substantial choices. The same thing can be said for the Shy Guy and Koopa Troopa, perhaps being left out in favor of another famous Nintendo icon. However, each character has their own weight and can directly affect your driving techniques.

The vehicles themselves are just as important as the driver behind the wheel. Standard karts, motorcycles and ATVs are at your disposal, providing different types of handling. By collecting coins during a race, you'll be able to unlock new karts, wheels and gliders over time. Mario Kart 8 is far from a simulator, but there are plenty of options to help make the vehicle design feel personal.

No matter how familiar you are with the previous games, Mario Kart 8 is perfect for both competitive and casual players. The mechanics are fairly simple in concept, but the ways you use them make all the difference while racing. That being said, players who want to spend their time mastering every twist and turn will still be on an even playing field compared to the uninitiated newcomers.

Drifting has been a trademark of the franchise since its humble beginnings, and Mario Kart 8 doesn't break the tradition. With the proper timing, a successful drift can result in a long speed boost and leave your competition in the dust. Staying directly behind a rival racer for a few seconds will give you enough speed to past them by, and jumping off of ramps will also increase your speed.

He's not so shy anymore.

The defensive items in Mario Kart 8 are along the same lines as they were in the Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS. Players who are in first place will mostly receive banana peels and green shells, but struggling racers are given the more items like red shells and fire flowers. The new air horn item can be obtain by any of the players and can deflect oncoming threats, including the blue shell.

Blue shells have been given a lower appearance rate, which is a much-welcomed improvement. Of course, it wouldn't be Mario Kart without a ridiculous power thrown into the mix. In rare instances, players can earn themselves an 8 by driving through an item box, giving them the chance to use eight of the game's items. It's definitely a tad excessive, but game's balance stays intact.

The thirty-two tracks featured in Mario Kart 8—half of them being remakes—have been given a special treatment: anti-gravity. This might seem like a cheap marketing gimmick at first, but the anti-gravity segments add a fierce flavor to each track and manage to alter the racing mechanics for the better. The prime example of this is how bumping into other players gives you a slight jolt of speed.

GamePad functionality is limited and doesn't improve the gameplay at all. Off-screen play is available as always, but you can also have the horn and map displayed. It's convenient to have the map on the small screen for a reference as to your rivals' whereabouts, yet it's mostly distracting from the race. Why the map couldn't be put on the television is a mystery that will hopefully get solved later on.

Mario Kart 8's content is separated into four main categories: Grand Prix, Time Trials, VS Race and Battle. All of these modes can be played solo or with a total of four players, which is to be expected from a multiplayer-focused title. Having a few friends along for the ride does add an extra layer of enjoyed to the experience, and it's highly recommended to have pals over for longer play sessions.

When participating in a Grand Prix, the level of intensity can be chosen through the 50cc, 100cc and 150cc ratings. Each difficulty setting has a total of eight Cups that are composed of four tracks, but the only thing that changes is how aggressive your AI competitors will be. Thankfully, the AI drivers are well-balanced and the "rubber band" effect is hardly noticeable while playing.

In order to earn three stars on a Cup, you need to score the most points by winning races. Staying in first place isn't required, but it's the best way to stay in the lead without having to worry about the other drivers catching up to you. Any experienced gamer won't have trouble beating the pack, yet there's plenty of room for the less experienced to make errors during any given race.

Time Trials are pretty self-explanatory and shockingly addictive. Simply pick which track to race on and attempt to set the fastest time, all while beating another player's Ghost. If your final time is good enough, you can upload it to the online leaderboards that span the globe. The trials are mostly meant for the competitive side of Mario Kart 8, but casuals shouldn't be afraid to give them a shot.

Those aren't just ordinary wheels...

Customization isn't limited to just the vehicles, and that's where VS Races come in. The amount of laps, item usage and many other features can all be tinkered with to fit your liking. Seeing as how Mario Kart 8 is best played in a party setting, this mode is essential for anyone looking for a more relaxed way to enjoy the game. However, not all of the modes are golden trophy holders.

Out of all the available modes, Battle is without a doubt the most disappointing. Players still have to pop each other's balloons using items, but the arena environments have been replaced by eight of the game's regular tracks. Due to this unfortunate change, the rounds feel unfocused and boring at times. If the arenas were used like they were in the past, Battle mode would have shined.

Taking Mario Kart 8 online is one of Nintendo's finest jobs at creating a stable, connected infrastructure. Each mode can be played against friends and strangers through the Nintendo Network, and constant frustrations such as lag and screen tearing are nearly non-existent. The lack of voice chat is a strange oversight, but it keeps the lobbies friendly and eventually won't cross your mind.

Just like the singe-player options, Mario Kart 8's online is fairly flexible. You can decide to keep the matchmaking regional or global, and both provide smooth, seamless interactions. There aren't any large penalties for performing poorly in races either, creating an environment where the skilled can keep doing what they do best and the new kids in the driver's seat have room to adapt.

Online or off, Mario Kart 8 can record Highlight Reels after each race that shows your greatest moments. The reels can be edited to focus on more than one player, show a specific segment of the race, and last a certain amount of time. Slow motion can even be applied to the highlight reels, displaying hilarious and oddly creepy shots of characters giving each other stares of dissatisfaction.

Those same reels can be uploaded to Nintendo's servers and can be watch by others via Mario Kart TV. Despite having a basic design, Mario Kart TV is a creative way for fans to view the triumphs and mishaps of their fellow racers. If Nintendo continues to support such a concept, this type of gameplay sharing can be expanded into other Wii U titles and form even stronger online communities.

The Wii U hasn't had the steam of content that a home console should have by its second year, but Mario Kart 8 softens the blow in a major way. Competing in various races and collecting every single stamp will keep any loyal fan busy for months on end. On top of this, the game marks an important evolution in how Nintendo approaches online connectivity and video creation features.

It might have a dry, bland Battle mode and bizarre character selections, but Mario Kart 8 shouldn't be dismissed as just another kart racing game. The streamlined mechanics are excellent for any type of player, and incredible visuals just enhance the fantastic presentation. Developers can try all they want to, but being able to top Mario Kart 8 doesn't seem likely any time soon.

Surpassing all expectations and putting the fears to rest, Super Mario 3D World is light-years ahead of its handheld predecessor. The co-op gameplay, beautiful visuals, and delightful soundtrack will keep you glued to your seat until every collectable is found. The Italian plumber's latest platformer is a necessity for all Wii U owners and Mario fans alike.

Dismissing Super Mario 3D World as nothing more than a copy of the previous game, 3D Land, is something nearly everyone is guilty of. At first glance, 3D World doesn't appear to be the next step in the Mario franchise's evolution unlike the excellent Super Mario Galaxy games. However, it only takes a few minutes to realize what makes this game so incredible.

Nintendo loves to reinvent the wheel just for the sake of creativity and 3D World is a prime example of this. That familiar feeling of wonderment from playing a Mario game is still deep inside 3D World, but the Big N manages to add something even more special to the formula. Who knows why it took this long, but the Wii U finally has a dash of that Nintendo magic.

3D World is extremely light on narrative much like all of the other Mario games but that won't matter once you pick up the controller. After kidnapping numerous fairies and trapping them in glass jars, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad must travel across the land and rescue them one by one. What follows is one of the most enjoyable Mario experiences since Galaxy 2.

The game is divided into eight unique worlds - all of which contain seven to nine levels and a boss stage at the end. From the scorching desert to the freezing winter wonderland, 3D World brings back all of the iconic locations from Mario's long, cherished past. Goombas, Koopas, and the other usual suspects return to fill the rouges gallery and they remain just as oblivious.

Before you're able to take a single step, the first thing you'll notice is just how gorgeous 3D World is. The characters and environments are the most crisp and vibrant to ever be featured in a Mario game, and it's obvious from just the intro cutscene. Seeing the Italian plumber and his friends in HD never grows old and you'll spend a large amount of time admiring the graphics.

Of course, the most important aspect of 3D World is the gameplay, and it's just as fine-tuned and satisfying as ever. The basic running and jumping mechanics are flawlessly responsive, and all of the small nuances have been kept intact. Being able to perform a long jump over a gaping pit of nothingness is done with extra grace and precision, all while staying intuitive.

The four characters each have their own styles of movement and they do a fine job of offering different types of challenges for various players. Mario has the default running speed and jump height, Luigi can jump the highest, Peach can hover in the air for a short amount of time, and Toad is the fastest runner. There's also a fifth unlockable character much later in the game.

Feel free to pick your favorite.

Co-op is one of the main bullet points of 3D World and it shouldn't be overlooked. Up to four players can work together and complete each level from beginning to end, and it works surprising well. Considering how the co-op gameplay in the New Super Mario Bros. games came off as too chaotic and troublesome, it's amazing just how much of an improvement 3D World is.

There's enough space for all four players to roam around as they please without getting in each other's way, but that doesn't mean all is perfect. You might be about to make the perfect jump and reach the top of the flag pole, only to have your friend bounce off your head like a spring. These moments are few and far between when everyone cooperates but they're bound to happen.

Power-ups are obliviously present within the game's various worlds and there's a great mix of old and new suits to experiment with. Classics like the Fire Flower and Tanooki Suit make a return but they're pushed aside for new inclusions. Grabbing a gold bell will put Mario—or anyone—in an adorable Cat Suit and the Double Cherry will make an exact clone of whoever touches it first.

The Cat Suit allows the characters to climb up any surface and reach secret locations, making some of the level less challenging but entertaining in their own way. Using the Double Cherry to create your own clone and travel on different paths is a clever concept but it can cause a bit of confusion. Aside from the minor inconveniences, all of the items remain enjoyable to use.

Music is almost just as vital to a Mario game as the gameplay, and it's no exception here. 3D doesn't reimagine the classic tunes we've grown to know and love, but its soundtrack will still bring joy to your eardrums. All of the music keeps a lighthearted tone that matches the game impeccably—whether you're jumping across poison lakes or exploring a spooky, Boo-filled mansion.

Climbing up walls isn't always the best idea.

Collectables are abundant across 3D World's levels and it will take a lot of time and patience to obtain every single one of them. Green Stars are required if you wish to get far in the main worlds but most of them are easy to locate, and the odds of your progression coming to a sudden halt are slim. Stamps, while not required to proceed, are much more interesting because of their illustrations.

The difficulty level of 3D World starts off forgiving—handing you 1ups and bonus items consistently. However, the challenge continues to amplify with each passing level and all of those extra lives you've built up will soon drain before your eyes. Veteran Mario players will be used to some of the difficulty spikes later on but newcomers might find them more frustrating than pleasing.

Secrets and bonuses have always been a staple for the Mario series, and 3D World doesn't disappoint. Without giving any surprises away, just be prepared to put your platforming skills to the test after beating the "final" world. Achieving one-hundred percent completion isn't easy, but great rewards await those that do - unlocking the game's final surprise it has in store.

Online interactions are fairly limited but they help give the game a sense of community. When you revisit a beaten level, you can race against Ghost Miis that represent the progress of other players from around the world. Messages and drawings can also be posted to the Miiverse through the in-game options, but it's all entirely optional for those who don't want to deal with them.

Tiny wrinkles may be present in the overall package, but 3D World is nothing short of golden. The visuals alone will keep your attention for a large amount of time, but the masterful level design and superb controls will have you playing for hours on end. Before you known it, you'll end up spending more time gathering coins and throwing fireballs than you ever thought was possible.

Playing through Super Mario 3D World is a fantastic way to use your Wii U console, but that's not why the game feels so special. It represents the strong effort that Nintendo puts forth to make sure that their fans are happy and remain that way. Once again, Mario has proven he's still the king of platforming and that his track record will continue to grow with near-perfect games.

The Mario & Luigi series makes its debut on the 3DS for the first time and delivers a long but enchanting adventure. With plenty of humorous moments, a delightful art style and satisfying battle system, Dream Team will quench anyone's thirst for a charming RPG to play on the go.

Spending fifty hours playing an RPG on the 3DS was something I never anticipated on doing. Using up such a large amount of time is usually restricted to console gaming for me, but that was until I played Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. The length of Mario and Luigi's latest adventure allows you take in most of the main content but it also creates the game's biggest downfall in the process.

Running around as the famous duo is just as fun and entertaining as it has been in the past, but whether or not you can withstand that for hours on end all depends on your level of patience. Is getting lost in a goofy tale with Mario and his friends what you've been craving for? Then this is the game for you. If not, then Dream Team might come off as a tad pompous.

The story starts with Princess Peach receiving an invitation to the sunny Pi'illo Island, bringing along the Mario Brothers, Starlow, and Toadsworth with her. Shortly after arriving, the group finds out that Pi'illo Island was once the home to an ancient race known as the Pi'illo folk. Mario and the others also learn that Luigi has the ability to fall asleep as soon as his head hits a comfortable surface.

After knocking Luigi out of his slumber, the brothers come into contact with Prince Dreambert, one of the many Pi'illo folks spread across the island. Dreambert warns everyone that the evil nightmare creature Antasma has returned after being defeated by the Pi'illo folk years ago, and it's up to Mario and Luigi to put a stop to his reign of terror and despair.

Much like past entries in the Mario & Luigi series, Dream Team's narrative will have you chuckling all the way through thanks to the witty sense of humor and likeable personalities. Mario and Luigi speak in fake Italian accents but the rest of the characters express their thoughts through normal text dialogue. The banter between the cast never grows old and it's always sharp.

All of the characters are brought to life with a beautiful art style that really makes them pop off the screen (no 3D effect required). The environments and enemies look gorgeous and it's hard not fall in love with the pure innocent look of the game. Visually speaking, Dream Team is one of the 3DS' most unique offerings to be released thus far.

When you're not reading the amusing dialogue or admiring the graphics, you'll be exploring Pi'illo Island and all of its surrounding areas. Controlling Mario and Luigi remains the same as it did in the earlier titles, with the A button making Mario jump and the B button doing the same for Luigi. The camera is positioned above the two heroes and it can give you a good sense of an area's size.

Coming into contact with an enemy will initiate a combat sequence that involves the same mechanics that have been seen in the past. Timing is essential in order to deal out the largest amount of damage to your foes and it helps keep the battles from feeling stale as they play out. Hitting the jump button just as you're about to land on a foe's head is still extremely satisfying.

If a certain group of enemies is too powerful, you can choose to flee from the battle or use a Bros. Attack on them. The Bros. Attacks use up BP but can eliminate large groups of foes if they're preformed correctly. Upon activating one of them, you'll then have to hit the A and B buttons in the proper sequence to make Mario and Luigi strike with the highest amount of force.

At the end of each battle you'll receive a select amount of EXP depending on what types of enemies you fought. Earning enough EXP will cause Mario and Luigi to level up and improve their various stats such as Health, Speed, Defense, and many others. You can also choose to enhance one stat by a few points if you time your button press well on a spinning slot.

The better your timing is, the stronger the attack will be.

Once you reach a certain level as Mario or Luigi they'll earn themselves a brand new rank. Both of them start with the Mushroom rank but will work their way towards the Shell, Flower, Star, and Rainbow ranks as they level up. Earning a new rank will give you the chance to pick a permanent enhancement for the individual bros. but you'll have to choose wisely.

Pi'illo Island might have some problems with nasty creates running around, but so does the Dream World. Thanks to Luigi's impressive sleeping skills, Mario can enter the Dream World through a portal that appears over Luigi's head as he sleeps on a Pi'illo folk while they're in their pillow form. Unlike the rest of the game, the Dream World is navigated on a 2D plain.

Mario will be joined by a recreation of Luigi known as Dreamy Luigi while in the Dream World, and he can help you navigate with the use of Luiginary Works. This means that Dreamy Luigi takes control of an aspect of the environment and manipulates it so he can help Mario explore the terrain. The Luiginary Works make great use of the 3DS' touch screen and are surprisingly well varied.

Seeing as how the real Luigi isn't in the Dream World, Bros. Attacks are replaced with Luiginary Attacks. Dreamy Luigi will explode into smaller versions of himself called Luiginoids and combined them together for Mario to attack enemies with. From an unstoppable rolling ball to an oversized hammer, the Luiginary Attacks are always pleasing to watch.

The boss encounters play out as standard battles while in the land of reality, but the ones in the Dream World are entirely different stories. Dreamy Luigi will grow enormous and force you to turn the 3DS on its side before starting the brawl. All of these boss fights will keep you on your toes and they're a blast to take part in, and thankfully there are multiple ones.

Platforming is a much larger part of Dream Team than any of the other Mario & Luigi games that came before it. Both the real and Dream Worlds contain sections that will have you jumping from platform to platform just like a classic Mario title. The platforming mechanics are tight and responsive but they don't offer much of a challenge over the course of the game.

The full map of the world is huge to say the least. There are multiple landmark regions to explore and Warp Pipes that will take you beneath the land. Being thorough reaps great rewards such as finding extra coins, valuable equipment, Attack Pieces, and Pi'illo folk to rescue. Discovering all of the games secrets will take a great deal of time to do, but the benefits are worth it.

There's a lot of ground to cover on Pi'illo Island.

Coins are used to purchase items and equipment for use during battle and there are plenty to be found. Equipment can improve Mario and Luigi's stats but they can also create negative effects that could potentially harm the two plumbers. Studying how the different types of equipment can alter Mario and Luigi's stats is vital to maxing out their performance during the multitude of brawls.

The most valuable items available for purchase are Badges, which can change the tide of any battle when used at the proper time. Mario and Luigi can purchase individual Badges for them to then combine into one, giving them a special ability once they build up a mandatory energy meter. The effects range from simple healing benefits to damaging enemies and they're all worth experimenting with.

Everything within Dream Team holds a high mark of quality, but the game's main problem is its overall length. On one hand, it's nice to have a full-fledged RPG on the 3DS but the game overstays its welcome on the other. I loved interacting with the world surrounding the two lovable heroes but playing through a seemingly endless amount of fetch quests on a handheld is no easy task.

Sure, having a huge adventure in your pocket at all times is great for those who want that core experience but the it might come off as daunting for others. All of the elements that compose the game are executed nicely but I can't shake the feeling that Nintendo overcompensated this time around. What might work on a console doesn't necessarily translate perfectly to handhelds.

It also doesn't help that a tutorial is activated nearly every time you unlock a new ability or encounter a puzzle in the game. Dreambert and Starlow will never stop pestering you about how to preform new moves and it can get irritating very quickly. I understand that Nintendo is trying to appeal to a mass audience, but that doesn't mean that everyone is new to gaming.

Dream Team might be a little too long for its own good but I still recommend playing through it. The story has enough charming moments to keep a smile on any gamer's face and the battle system is consistently engaging. It's the core gameplay that makes the game rise above the bloated narrative it has, and I never found myself bored with any of the enemy or boss confrontations.

The 3DS has built up a strong library of games with plenty of excellent titles to choose from, with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team being one of them. Seeing Mario and Luigi cooperate like two close brothers is will leave you in a pleasant mood by the conclusion. You might end up spending a bit more time on Pi'illo Island than you would have liked to but it's a vacation spot worth visiting.